Showing posts with label rock n roll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rock n roll. Show all posts

Monday, October 04, 2010

San Jose Rock N Roll Half Marathon --(10/03/2010)

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起跑線前的大合照

一年一度的 San Jose Rock N Roll Half Marathon 又到了 , 這是我第三年參加這個比賽,
今年 Yi 矢言要打破我去年的紀錄,Kai 也忍不住我們一再地誘惑,
總算也報了名來參加,我呢?我早就打算把這個比賽當作年度的測驗,
看看一年來到底進步了多少,所以我們三劍客總算能湊在一起跑一個大比賽了,
真是令人高興。

雖然說已經參加過許多比賽,前一天晚上我還是興奮地睡不著覺,在床上翻來翻去,
想像著隔天的比賽,會是怎樣的情況,該如何配速,會有多少辣妹參加....
就在我總算耗盡了所有想像的情境,開始有點睡意的時候,鬧鐘居然在這時候響起,
沒想到已經是早上4點半了,因為一整個禮拜因為腰痛沒有運動,
所以比賽前想來做個全套的拉筋,避免等一下因為跑步而受傷,犧牲點睡眠也是值得啦,
接下來的準備工作也不少,先換上隱形眼鏡,然後在膝蓋跟髖部的關節都塗上 Bangay 軟膏,
腳掌跟腳指都塗上凡士林,以避免起水泡,然後穿上雙層防水泡的襪子,
戴上護膝,再把褲子穿上,去年我穿的是CW-X的緊身長褲,今年沒那麼冷,
我怕到時候太陽一出來反而會有散熱問題,所以今年就穿短褲吧。
上半身就比較簡單一點,只要是排汗的T-shirt就行了。

6:40分,Kai 跟 Yi 來接我,今年老婆打算睡飽了再去找我們,反正比賽離我家很近,
就不用跟我們到現場吹冷風枯等2個小時,如果又沒幫我照到像,可能又要被我唸個半天,
我想想也對啦,精神好一點,眼力也會變好,說不一定就能照到我了,
所以我們三個選手就先行出發...今年我們也特別提早出發,以防去年因為路上塞車而
引發的跳車事件重演,今年沒有司機,遲到了可不能跳車了。






到了比賽現場,果然是滿山人海,氣氛就是不一樣,
一些人忙著做暖身,一些人忙著吃早餐,
也有些三三兩兩的人聚在一起聊天,
甚至有些人已經都開始跑了起來,
想在比賽前先把身體弄熱,準備好好大幹一場,
我們也趁機會趕快上廁所排掉一些重量,把夾克跟毛巾放到寄物區,
然後趕快到起跑區集合。
今年的起跑區是第三區,非常的前面,可以直接看到起跑線,果然在這裡看到的人
跟之前完全不同,想判斷一個人跑得快不快,看他身上的裝備就知道了,
在這一區的人,有一大半的人身上都是不帶水的,那是因為他們已經練到不需要喝太多水,
就能跑完21公里了,省下來的重量都能讓身體更輕鬆,跑更快,相較之下,
我身上帶著護膝,兩瓶水,8 oz , 手機,照相機,隨身聽,還有兩包GU ,
怎麼看都跑不快,沒辦法,跑不快,總比跑不完好,至少今年得破去年的紀錄才行。




 



起跑囉!!

就在一位不知名的女生,唱完整首走音不斷的國歌之後,等待已久的時候終於來了,
起跑槍聲響起,兄弟們衝阿!! 往日練跑的情誼也在這個時候忘的一乾二淨,
我跟Yi 不顧 第一次參加的Kai, 槍聲一響,就把他給拋在後頭了,直接往前衝,
Kai 真是抱歉了。

一開始的速度大概是7:45 / mile 跟我平常練習的差不多,今天我還特別穿了 Nike Glide
看在它只有 8.4 oz 的重量,能不能在速度上有點幫助,(結果反而變成了多事)
今天的Yi 果然還是吃了藥,跟練習的時候判若兩人,這個速度他居然很輕鬆地跟著我,
而且還一路一直揮手跟旁邊加油的人群打招呼,看到他的樣子,
我就知道他又因為比賽而變身了。
可能是因為我太久沒跑,一開始雖然覺得還好,但是到了2英里之後,我就覺得不太對了,
總覺得心跳一直上升,雙腿也比平常僵硬,為了控制心跳,我不得不稍微減速,
調整步伐,看看能不能讓整個身體先熱起來,到了4英里的距離,速度降到8:00/mile
趕緊吃了一包GU,才稍微一晃神,就發現 Yi 居然已經開始加速,從半個身體,到一個身體,
幾分鐘之內,我已經看不到他的背影了,還有12英里耶,這也太強了吧,
果然是他一貫的比賽作風,超人出現了。

不管他了,我得好好控制自己才行,不然一不小心可能就得停在路邊喘大氣,
看著別人一個個超過自己,跑完8英里,情況果然不對,奇怪,到底是什麼問題,
慘了,原來是鞋子出了問題,這雙Nike 居然會讓我的小指頂到鞋子的側邊,
而且是兩隻腳都有相同的情況,隨著每一個步伐的撞擊,指甲出血的痛從腳指開始蔓延,
先是腳掌,然後傳到大腦,我試著把音樂的音量開大聲,讓自己分散注意力,
又趕快加碼吃了第二包GU,似乎有點幫助,讓我又推進了2英里。

過了10英里,花了1個小時21分,算是我最好的成績之一,但是接下來的3.1英里,
我知道就是阿鼻地獄了,先是速度降到8:30/mile ,每踏出的一步,都是一陣劇痛,
好像穿著拖鞋跑步一樣,完全感受不到鞋子的彈性,
於是我試著縮小步伐,在降低腳的衝擊,跟維持速度上做一個平衡的調整,
我很怕因為強迫加速而導致抽筋,還是心跳的瞬間上升,
接著我找一個跑在我前面的辣妹,慢慢地跑到她的身後,
然後很用力地看著她姣好的背影,開始我的吸星大法,
吸取這位跑步的美女散發出的費洛蒙,看著她金黃色,上下擺動的馬尾巴,
豐滿的雙臀帶動著修長的雙腿,優美又強而有力地往前跑,
我試著引發我體內原始的獸性,在心裡默唸著,跟上去,跟上去,希望能激發出我體內
的腎上腺素,動情激素,什麼素都好,都通通給我發出來就是了,
 嘿,似乎真的有用耶,速度回升了,腳也不痛了,
這時候我也看到12英里的牌子,
哈哈,太好了,只剩下1.1英里,於是我先超過了前面這位美女,
(用完就丟,真是抱歉了,老婆說路邊的野花不能採),
接著換回原來的姿勢,這時候也故不得什麼腳痛,還是哪裡痛了,
就是撐住幾分鐘而已,終點馬上就在眼前了,
這時候觀眾的加油聲也越來越大,Go, Go Go, you are almost there !!
 是阿,我知道,我又快要創造歷史了,跑阿,繼續跑阿,絕對不能停!

到了最後100碼的直線加速,我知道這時候再快也就是幾秒鐘的差別而已,
我反而放鬆心情,用自己自認最優美的跑步姿勢,跑過終點,
因為這裡照相機最多了,當然要讓自己看起來帥氣一點。

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哈哈,差強人意的1:47:35秒的成績,雖然不太滿意,但是帳面上至少還是比去年快,

更重要的是,在終點線等著我的老婆跟女兒,今年終於照到我了!



到了終點,以及迎接我的Yi.

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在路邊高興加油的Allison...

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女兒騎在老婆的肩膀上,老婆脖子上還掛著我的20D 相機,老婆辛苦你了。

到了終點,回頭看到在一旁的老婆跟女兒,真的是太高興了,原來他們趕上了,
什麼酸痛都沒有了,Allison也一直高興地叫著,爸爸加油,爸爸加油。

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官方照片



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賽後休息,享受啤酒跟搖滾樂...



後記

大會成績:1:47:35比去年快了差不多1分鐘
Yi跑出超人般的 1:42:44 (要超過這個成績可有得練了)
Kai 跑了1:58:55 雖然跑到10英里的地方發生腿抽筋,還是跑出了2個小時以內的成績,
算是非常不錯的第一次。

因為最近捲入連續的倒楣事件的漩渦,就在比賽前的一個禮拜,把腰給閃了,
導致兩個禮拜沒有練跑,看來這種賽前的小心準備的態度也是非常重要,
平常真的是太不用心,沒有好好照顧身體才會這樣,
另外賽前換鞋更是大忌,不知道我自己在想什麼,才會導致有這種從來沒有過的傷害,
明年可不能再犯相同的錯誤。

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon (06/06/2010)

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New personal record: 1:46:45
Overall standing: 670/13573
Man Age Group(35-39) : 75/668
Man Age(38) : 16



First of all, I needed to say "thank you" to : Jason and Janice, Allen and Ellen
and especial thanks to Paul who woke up at 3:00am and came with us at 4:00am.
It took unusual courage and will to do that...

The decision of making this long trip seemed to a distant past. I couldn't hardly remember.
Well, we did it anyway.

The Rock N Roll race series was always my favorite, it had the best race service
among all the races I've ever joined. Yes, best service meant a lot of free food
and free beer for runner !!
So, here I was, 460 miles from home, and of course, I  always carried extra bag with me in the race, ready for the post-race snacks and drinks.

Unlike the Rock N Roll San Jose, the arrangement in San Diego was a little complicated. Everyone (runner and family) was encouraged to park the car in Qualcomm stadium, and runner would take the shuttle to the starting line. Family would take Trolley train first, then take another shuttle to the finish line. That's why we needed to get up at 3:00am....

At first, I was really worried that my wife would need to take Allison to go all the trouble
by themselves to get to the finish line. Thank to Paul, who was willing to go with us
on the race day that I felt so relieved they could make it without any problem.
It made me feel a little bit guilty that we had to wake up the kid at 3:00am just for
her father's pleasure ...


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Qualcomm Stadium, all the runners were lined up for shuttle


Just got off the bus


The starting line was in Balboa Park, there were more than 20,000 people for this race,
I could only say WOW, when I saw the countless people resting around the
starting line area, I had to be very careful not to step on the people on the ground!!


Starting Line rest area


people lined up waiting for massage

pre race massage ?? No kidding !! Wouldn't you fall asleep for that ?? I would, if I had one.
I preferred post race massage instead, but there was none.


People started to gather in the corral area. 




taking off!!The fun began, let's rock and roll....

The people-boost took effect again. Somehow, when a lot of people ran together,
there was a invisible force to push you faster.  My first 5 miles splits was around
7:45 min/mile, and I was not feeling too fast at all. Maybe it was the distraction or
something else. It was about 45 sec faster than my training speed.


Well, I had to admit, the speed was manageable, but couldn't say comfortable.
I could barely remember we ran into the downtown, and passed some museums, and parks.
All I remembered was I kept watching my speed, and controlled my running form.


The coolest part of this route was, we could actually run on the highway !!


We were running on high way


we were caught up by full marathoner lead group

The routes for full and half marathon were merged in here, this was the first time
I could personally see the lead elite runners this close !! Some crazy idea suddenly
came into my mind, I tried to catch up their speed, to see how fast they actually were.
Well ... as you could expect, it was very frustrated, it was like I was driving my Subaru and racing with a Lotus..
The Lotus kept going further, and I was still in the starting line, totally different league.



7 miles, still on the high way

After we got off the high way, around mile 10, I hit the "wall".  It was kind of feeling that
suddenly all my energy was drained away. Usually, my GU power should take effect, because
in the race, I took one around mile 4, and the second one around mile 9.
My legs were so heavy,  and I was panting heavily, feeling exhausted. The little devil started
to talk : You needed to stop, took a walk, no big deal ..
I hated this feeling, it was awful , but on the other hand, it was not a stranger to me.
Somehow, I just needed to let go my mind, and got it over with, and kept running, running.


Hey, where the hell was the beautiful view the official website promised me ?
It was mile 12 already, all I could see was gray sky, cars, and running people.

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Mile 13, I was so exhausted and dragging myself. I didn't even notice my wife and Paul
were right beside me , taking this photo.

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13
Springing to the finish line.



finish line looking back.



taking the trolley train back to stadium



on the train




7
Another Rock N Roll was collected !!!

Summary:
I found that my regular training distance was too short, it could carry me to the
finish line, but can't sustain my initial pace long enough. The speed after mile 10 was
terrible, it dropped to 8:50 ~ 9:00 min/mile.
I was a little disappointed about the race route, especially the half marathon, there was no beautiful view at all. It seemed all the best parts were in full marathon route.
In fact, they changed the route this year, last year's route was circling the mission bay
and passing two cross ocean bridges!!
Well, it gave me the reason to train for marathon again. Should I ?

Garmin GPS data: